How to Block Alpaca Knitted Scarves
Alpaca is one of the warmest animal fibers, estimated three times warmer than wool. In addition, the yarn is very soft, which makes it a good choice for hand-knitted scarves. The final step in creating a knitted scarf is blocking, which is the process of wetting and shaping it into a permanent shape. Because many fibers like alpaca can bloom after washing, many knitters combine washing a finished item with blocking.
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Things You'll Need
- Finished scarf
- Liquid detergent for washing wool or delicate items
- Towel
- Flat surface that you can stick pins into
- Rust-proof pins, for blocking lace
Instructions
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1
Fill a sink or container with lukewarm or cold water. Choose a container that is big enough to hold the scarf without crowding.
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2
Add a small squirt of liquid detergent to the water and gently swish it around. Be stingy with the soap, and do not agitate the water so much that you create a lot of suds.
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3
Add the scarf to the water. Make sure that the entire scarf is immersed in the water. Let it soak undisturbed for 15 minutes. Spread a towel out near the sink or container.
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4
Gather the scarf up into a ball with both hands and gently lift it out of the water. Alpaca is weaker when wet, so make sure that an end is not hanging down. Gently squeeze a little water out of the scarf. To prevent felting, do not agitate or wring the scarf.
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Put the wet scarf on the towel, and spread it out a little. Roll up the towel, with the scarf in it, and press out some of the water. The scarf should be wet, but not dripping
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6
Spread the scarf on the flat surface into the desired shape. Let dry.
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Lace scarves must be stretched to reveal the pattern. To do this, spread the scarf out on the flat surface and secure a straight edge with the rust-proof pins. Then gently stretch the scarf away from the pins until the lace is open, and you can see the pattern. Secure the other side with pins. Let dry.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use any mild soap, or even shampoo.
